The four ministers gathered in the court drinking and feasting with the maids to discuss the money needed to share with the Rose Kingdom. Panting heavily, a soldier barged in and knelt down a few yards away from them.
"Explain the intrusion!" Minister Khan ordered.
"Lord Khan, a fleet of the Rose kingdom is coming in our direction," he informed hurriedly.
"What??" the three ministers cried, turning towards Khan.
"Yes My Lords. Sources say that the King is coming. They're at the entrance of the kingdom as we speak."
"Did we miss any prior intimation about the visit?" Khan asked.
"I'm afraid not. Maybe a sudden visit?" Minister verma replied.
"But this had never happened earlier.." Ministed Damu murmured.
"Let's make preparations to welcome the King," Minister Rao urged.
"Yes."
They called the servants and ordered them to make immediate arrangements for the king's arrival. All of a sudden, a tense atmosphere has prevailed in the kingdom.
Not many times, the king visited Jasmine. But wherever he does, he personally enquires the howabouts of Aaradhya before leaving, making sure she's properly provided. So particularly during his visit, the soldiers guarding Shivraj and Aaradhya clean the place up and take special care of them.
Like always, they started cleaning up the place at Aaradhya's prison cell.
A sudden noise disturbed the couple and they began to hear the soldiers gossip.
"Do you know why King Surya is having this sudden visit here?"
"No! I am shocked actually. So do you know the reason?"
"Considering there's not much going on in the kingdom, rumors say he is coming to meet the former queen of Jasmine."
"Yeah.. That's not an impossible chance."
"Ok now, keep quiet and continue to work better. Reward is also not an impossible chance!"
Aaradhya's face turned ashen after listening to their words.
'Why now?? No way the information I passed falls into the wrong ears. Or has it?' many questions ran in Shivraj's mind.
"Shiv. What is happening? Do you think he knows anything?" Aaradhya asked.
Shivraj turned towards Aaradhya and said, "No Aari. I'm sure he knows nothing. Our men are loyal to death. Don't worry. He just might be coming here on some duty."
"No shiv. I am having an uneasy feeling about the visit. Why should he come here when his own kingdom is at war? You think he guessed our daughters are coming to attack Jasmine but not Rose?" Aaradhya expressed her concerns.
Shivraj also thinks the same but acting out with mere doubt is just stupid. So he decided to sit tight and believe in his daughters.
"It's alright Aari. Whatever is happening right now, I think it's for good. Just have faith in our daughters. Even if he knows something and is coming to defend here, Surya is predestined to get defeated this time. I have that belief in me. Just be ready to meet our daughters soon." Shivraj poured out his confidence.
After listening to Shivraj, Aari began to calm down. She started to blindly believe that they're all going to live together happily after the war.
"Thank you Shiv. You always know how to adjust my heart's rhythm. Whenever I feel less courage, you fill me up." saying that, Aaradhya hugged him.
"No Aari. It's not you losing courage. In fact you're the most courageous person I've ever known. It's the love.. Since you've missed their childhood, unknowingly you might still be picturing them to be your cute little daughters. So that very mother's love is making you feel a bit more concerned for them." Shiv explained his thoughts.
"Maybe you're right. Even at this age, you're still so sensible and mentally strong Shiv!"
"What? Do you mean I've become old Aari? Because you're wrong. Not only mentally but physically too. I am still so young that I can break thousands of enemies' arms single handedly."
Aaradhya chuckled and turned away without saying anything.
"Hey, Aari.. are you underestimating me? Huh?" Shiv faked a frown.
"Yes"
"..."
While Shiv and Aari are having their time, the ministers got their time. They got information that there are thousands of soldiers marching towards them.
They fell into a dilemma. Why is their king bringing such a huge army?
"What do you think about this situation, Minister Khan?" Minister Rao asked.
Before Khan replied Varma said, "I guess we are going to war with some other kingdom. King wants us to join his men immediately."
"No. If he wants us to join then he will summon us. There is no need to come here.." Khan responded.
"Let's wait for some time. Our men will bring the accurate information," Dhamu stated.
At dusk, the people they sent to enquire returned with panic. They rushed towards the ministers to inform them of the matter.
"My Lords."
"Yes."
"My Lords, There is not only the Rose Kingdom Army," the messenger informed them.
"What do you mean?" Khan frowned.
"There is another larger army which is clearly not our friend," Messenger informed.
"What?"
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